Warning: Don't Pour Grease Down Your Drain This Thanksgiving

By
Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air
|November 10, 2017

Thanksgiving is officially upon us, and that only means one thing: cooking. That’s right: from lavish dinners to incredible desserts, it’s truly the best time to let your culinary skills unwind and share them with your loved ones! However, when you’re cleaning up your kitchen, never pour cooking grease down the drain — and here’s why:

Blocks Pipes

Unlike flowing water that goes down the drain effortlessly, grease has the opposite effect: it clumps. That’s right: when you decide to dump grease and other cooking oils down your drain, they will begin to cool — which will make the substances dry, followed by solidification. As guessed, when grease or oil solidifies in your drain it will cause a blockage in your pipes, preventing water to run smoothly. In addition to creating blockages in your pipes, grease and oil can also wreak havoc on your sewer, too.

Sewer Complications

As mentioned earlier, pouring grease and oil down your drain can cause blockages within your plumbing pipes — but also on your sewer. However, when these harmful plumbing substances reach wastewater in the sewer, they will begin to clump together and create larger blockage-inducing substances. These larger substances will cause more roadblocks in your plumbing and will ultimately lead to non-functioning pipes — and could possibly make running water a little less accessible in your home.

Resolution

If you’re looking to dispose of grease (or oil) this Thanksgiving, the best solution is to take the cooking agent and pour it into a heat-safe container (or jar) and let it cool. Not only will this be time-saving on your end, but it will also save your plumbing in the process. Once the grease cools within the container/jar, you can then properly dispose of the cooking agent in your garbage can and continue on with your Thanksgiving festivities!

Think your pipes are blocked? The best preventative action you can take is calling your local plumber to scope out your home’s plumbing. At Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we are here for all of your drain cleaning and heating needs, which is why we offer 24/7 emergency services.